Rahul Gandhi convicted in defamation case: Opposition alleges conspiracy; BJP welcomes judgment

The Congress on Thursday said former party chief Rahul Gandhi will file an appeal against a Gujarat court verdict holding him guilty in a 2019 criminal defamation case and alleged that he was being "punished" for raising his voice for the truth.

Several Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, spoke out angrily on the matter. "A scared machinery of power is trying to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi through 'saam, daam, dand, bhed' (every trick in the book)," Priyanka Gandhi said in Hindi on Twitter.

Terming him as a 'fearless leader' Congress leader and his sister Priyanka Gandhi said a scared government machinery is trying to muzzle Rahul Gandhi's voice.

A court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks but was later granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to let him appeal the court's judgment.

"The whole machinery of a scared power is trying to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhiji by imposing price, punishment, discrimination. My brothers have never been afraid, nor will they ever be. Have lived speaking the truth, and will continue to speak the truth. Will continue to raise the voice of the people of the country. The power of truth and the love of crores of countrymen are with him," Priyanka Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

In his first reaction after being convicted in a defamation case, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi invoked Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet.

Taking to micro-blogging Twitter, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad quoted Mahatma Gandhi and wrote,''"Mera dharma satya aur ahimsa par adhaarit hai. Satya mera bhagwan hai, ahimsa use pane ka sadhan (My faith is based on truth and non-cm violence. Truth is my God and non-violence a means to reach him).''

The case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" remarks on a complaint lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad made the remarks while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Reacting to the judgment, complainant and Surat West Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Purnesh Modi said he welcomed the court's verdict.

Saying that an appeal will be filed in the matter, Kharge slammed the BJP. If they point one finger at others there are four fingers pointed at them also, he said on Twitter. The Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, "Everyone knows, Rahul Gandhi ji is raising his voice against a dictator. Showing the courage to call a wrong, a wrong. "The dictator is rattled by this courage. He is trying to intimidate sometimes via ED, sometimes via police, sometimes via case, sometimes via punishment," the party said. "... We will fight and win," the party said.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "This is new india, If you raise your voice against injustice, then ED-CBI, police, FIR will be imposed. "Rahul Gandhi ji is also being punished for speaking the truth, for raising his voice against a dictator," Ramesh said. The law of the country gives an opportunity of appeal to Rahul Gandhi and he will exercise this right, he said.

Opposition leaders back Rahul

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged a 'conspiracy' to 'finish' Opposition leaders.

"A conspiracy is being hatched to eliminate non-BJP leaders and parties by prosecuting them. We have differences with the Congress, but it is not right to implicate Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case like this. "It is the job of the public and the opposition to ask questions. We respect the court but disagree with the decision," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said opposition forms the core of democracy and dissent should not be stifled. "Respectfully disagree with court verdict against Rahul Gandhi. Opposition forms the core of democracy. Dissent should not be stifled. India has a strong tradition of critique. Attempt to reduce this to the viewpoint of one ideology, one party, one leader is unconstitutional and undemocratic," he tweeted.

Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh said it's a matter of concern that it becomes a defamation issue even if someone iterates the 'Modi' surname.

BJP welcomes judgment

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said whatever Rahul Gandhi says nowadays is dangerous not only for the party but also for the country.

BJP's Amit Malviya said the comment was a casteist and defamatory one and it targetted a section of society. "He is flippant and dangerous, who has no compunction deriding India and Indians. He had recently pleaded for Europe and US intervention in India's internal affairs... Shameful," Malviya said.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla linked the 2019 comment with the recent uproar over Rahul Gandhi's comments made in the UK and asked whether Rahul Gandhi will now apologise.